Impatient for Windows Phone 7.8? Fetch the CAB files and DIY

Windows Phone 7.8 is just heading out to consumers, but appears to be wrapped up in a strategic deployment. Should you wish to no longer wait for the update to prolong the lifespan of your Windows Phone 7 handset, XDA Developers forum has the CAB files listed for download. Be sure to file this under "Experienced users only."

As well as Windows Phone 7.8, (build 8858) files are also available for the previous build 8779 aka 'Tango'. So how does one go about this? We published an in-depth tutorial which also builds off of this article on how to go about updating your Windows Phone manually. Both are well worth checking out if you're considering this path. Just like forcing the Tango update, while following such a guide, be sure to ignore previous build numbers in the article and use what's stated over on XDA.

Windows Phone Central cannot take any responsibility should a process you undertake render your Windows Phone useless. Continue at your own peril! And remember, you won't get any OEM specific firmware that may come with the update, so you may want to wait a few days.

Impatient for Windows Phone 7.8? Fetch the CAB files and DIY

I updated my DVP a while back this way too but I don't gave the new colors and can't access the lockscreen settings. I couldn't figure out which language files to install so I just did English so I'm betting that's the problem.

You can go into settings and look at region+language then look at display language. You should see a list of languages supported and should get the cab file for each. If you are developer unlocked there's a app you can side load that will tell you exactly which language packs you need (don't remember the name but it's been discussed here in the guide they did awhile back)

Hey! So I have an arrive as well but for some reason (probably something dumb), the update wouldnt take. it had build 7.10.7720 with only English (US) as the only language pack. what files/language packs did i need to install? i downloaded 3 language packs (one for each of the 3 os steps up)

I cant figure this out. im on 7.10.8107.79 and cant get anything else to install after that. I thought i was on the right track and 2 hrs later not much further. I'm done for the night. Maybe I'll find something tomorrow :S

How did you get past 8107? Everything i try to install comes back with a message saying cant update device due to error. I know i need to go to Tango then do the 3 updates to get to 7.8 but i dont think im getting the right files.

I had quite a time at this as well. I had a lot of trouble getting the updates to take, so I did it in a few stages. If you've already gotten to 8107, then you should probably only need to move forward from "Stage 2." Folowing the tutorials posted above, the stages I list below just indicate which files you need to "send" using the "WP7 Update Cab Sender." For each stage, put the files into the same directory as your WP7 Update Cab Sender, then use the sender to send them (with the S command). After each stage is completed, your phone should boot up and say "Update Successful." You can check Settings > About > More Info > OS version to see that the update got you to the appropriate level before moving on to the next stage. Remember to remove the previous files from the directory where the WP7 Update Cab Sender exists after each stage is completed, then move the files for the next stage in and run the tool.
**Below is a list of the files that I used. This assumes you're starting at 7720 using an English (United States) Sprint HTC Arrive. PLEASE MAKE A BACK UP (it only takes 10-20 minutes)**Stage 1(7740 and 8107) send the following files that are linked from this article:Download link to use: http://www.wpcentral.com/force-updating-your-windows-phone-os-build-8107...

For me, it was a lot of trial and error. I ended up doing the 8779 and 8783 together (with the language pack associated to 8779, so 3 files in the directory with the WP7 Update Cab Sender). Once I was confident I had all the packages correct, I used the Cab Sender tool to restore the backup that I had created prior to starting all of this (sent me back to 7720), and then I started from the beginning. You could also delete the cab files from whatever computer you are using for this and redownload them. With names like "diff-7.10.8773.98-7.10.8779.8-armv7-retail-microsoft.pks_b9598a098a3a4e902d043cef778a79ff3e6b0869" it is easy to mistake one for another.

did anybody try to put the 8779 8783 and 8858 all together? I only found one restore point, for the 2 steps upgrade.
Is there any official update for Arrive? are we blocked from the official update since we did the force update ourselves? I had those updates to 8773 long ago, and didn't find any problem, so it's not a big deal, but just want to know.

hey there thanks for the tip... appreciate it.. im about to try and upgrade my samsung focus s att using this.. but i had a question and i rather sound dumb askin this than screw ma phone up.. so what i wana find out is how do you recognize the language packs you need against the 24 odd packs available,, my phone has 22... anyone who can answer this???
thanks a tonne

For the HTC Arrive, it was simpler since we only had the English (United States) Pack. I found someone in the xda thread that had recommended that the English pack was the file with "...lang_0409.pks..." in the file name.

I don't want to steer you wrong with the Focus S and ruin your phone, but the article below outlines a new tool. You may be able to go through the tool, and when you get to the language selection part, only select those languages that you find when navigating (on your phone) to Settings > Region + Language > Display language. If your phone contains languages that the tool does not contain, it may be too risky to proceed though.http://www.wpcentral.com/tool-make-installing-windows-phone-78-update-ea...

The detailed instructions provided by you helped me update my Dell venue pro. Thanks a lot. I hope 7.8 is not the final update. There is nothing new except the screen and bing wallpaper.
Not worth the loooongg wait. :-(

ahabenezer,
I joined wpcentral.com literally just to say "thank you" for your instruction. In just 25 minutes, I was able to backup my phone and go all the way to Windows 7.8 and it is great!
Something that I did to make this a little easier is...

I made a folder in My Documents called "Windows 7 Phone" and a subfolder of "Update to Windows 7.8"

I downloaded the "Force Update Package" file and extracted it to the "Update to Windows 7.8" folder creating the "Cab Sender" folder.

For each "stage" listed above, I created a separate folder "Stage 1", "Stage 2", etc. and put each file you'd selected respectively into the corresponding folder.

Once I was ready to transfer the files using the Cab Sender program, I copied the files from each "stage" and pasted them into the "Cab Sender" folder and followed your instructions.

Upon receiving the visual update from the phone stating "Update Successful", I double-checked the version # in the "About" section of settings on the phone and if it matched the 4-digit version # you had written at each header of each "stage", I deleted the 3 cab files I'd pasted from the "Cab Sender" folder and went to the next "stage" folder to copy/paste and repeat the process.

This was so easy, I can't thank you enough for creating this tutorial!
Thanks again dude, you are the MAN!

I'm an HTC Arrive user and am looking forward to getting the WP7.8 update on my phone.
I was doing fine up to 8107, but am having trouble now.
How do you load the code for the updates beyond 8107 into the Cab Sender?
When I click on your links, it takes me to the thread that lists the actual code, but it doesn't upload the cab files to my Cab Sender like the prior links that got me to 8107.
I've tried loading the code onto WordPad and transferring those files over, but no luck.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

First off, thank you for posting the instructions.
Nevermind, figured it out. Yay, for me. Now to get up the courage to actually do it. Don't want to brick the only phone I have.
One question I have is how do I back up the Arrive? Do I use the Zune software?

If you're on 7720, that would be 7 steps up... You need to go through 7740, 8107, 8112, 8773, 8779, 8783, and finally 8858. All the CABS are there at the start of the same thread. Be sure to do one step at a time, and install each cab with its corresponding language pack (only English). Also check if there are any firmware updates along with the first CABS. They would be in the first posts as well.

I was successful with this method to upgrade to Tango but now I'm getting " 2be8e98c - b04a3a9f - e781edb9 - 88cff6bc Complete with error code: 80070013, error message: An unexpected error has occurred." I did everything the same way I did it last time. Anyone else run into this error? Know a fix? Thanks.

Left an angry tweet for HTC claiming to be a Titan owner who was disappointed that I wasn't getting an update and that I was ready to jump ship to Nokia (I have a Lumia 920 already). Hopefully with enough pressure HTC will cave and release the update so that people aren't forced to do this. I noticed quite a lot of angry tweets in addition to mine and the corporate reps seemed to be running out of apologies so hopefully that's a good sign.

For those of you who don't feel comfortable with the .cab method, an easier method is the "Disconnect Trick". While the .cab method can break future updates (which we probably won't get any), the "Disconnect Trick" doesn't break future updates.

In my case, I plugged in, Rogers on Lumia 900 here. Wouldn't detect update... Tried a bunch of times, no luck.
Then tried the old "disconnect trick" with Zune, it worked!
First Update (to):
7.10.8779.8
Second Update (to):
7.10.8783.12

So I did this for the Tango update that was never pushed to the HTC Titan through AT&T. If I do this method and a few weeks later HTC and AT&T release the OEM specific update, will my phone recognize/prompt me to update or will I miss out on that aspect?(the voice notes was the only thing that didn't work with the Tango CAB update).

yes or no...I wouldnt hold your breath for an actual update from ATT. I think only some phones on ATT will get the update. ... not all, including the Titan.

But yes if there is a bootloader (SPL)/firmware update (which ATT Titans are supposed to be on 4.x not 1.10, then yes it will prompt you for an update) otherwise no, you will probably not get a notification for an update.

Either way this is good news for us who are frankly tired of waiting around. Microsoft never even made an official announcement and I signed up for the newsletter thing to stay up to date and never received one email or anything news related. Thank you XDA!

I might be being completely dense, but I can't make any sense of any of that stuff over on the XDA thread. I registered to ask there, but you need to make 10 posts before you can post there -_- so maybe someone here can help?
Firstly, when I forced the keyboard fix update on my Omnia 7 using this method, it stopped Zune from ever recognising my phone again. Will this be an issue?
If not, my current software version is 8107, what do I need to do to get it to 7.8? There are 3 updates and a Nokia thing on the linked post, plus a load of language packs, but I don't know which languages or updates to install on my Omnia 7 because they aren't labelled (I need Deutsch, English UK, English US, Espanol, Francais and Italiano)
I'd really appreciate if someone can make sense of it for me

I did this on both mine, and my wife's Verizon Trophys. Worked a charm on both. For anyone wondering what language codes equate to English and Spanish for a US Verizon Trophy, they were 0409 and 0c0a. I just replaced the cab files win the previous update zip with the ones linked on the XDA thread (and with the correct language files accompanying each update) and followed the instructions. You should have 8 cab files if you're updating a verizon trophy. Since she'd been nagging me for the last four months as to when this update was coming out, I'm very glad it worked. I guinea pigged mine before touching hers, because my two year contract just ended and I could order a replacement 8X if I broke mine. Since I have the update, I'm going to wait for the high end Nokia to show up, and let the new feel of 7.8 make that wait easier.

I'm working on mine as we speak, took me awhile to get all setup (backups, downloads, etc...) since I'd done a fresh install on my laptop since the tango update came out. I can't wait to get those tiny tiles.

Hey if you dont mind me asking how did you get that update, iv been trying the disconnect trick on my samsung focus s sgh i937 w/ os 7.10.8773.98 for over ten times with no luck :( any suggestions...do let me know.. cant wait to get ma hands on it....thanks...

Updated on my Arrive using the CAB method. Everything seems to be running fine. The start screen refresh may be enough to keep me interested until Sprint announces it will be the exclusive launch partner for the Surface Phone (why not?) Oh and it looks like the Office tile got a little love.

For some reason on my Arrive I cannot get to the 'Lockscreen and wallpaper' seeting, it crashes out each time. Also, my calendar tile seems to not work well anymore. Anyone else that has an Arrive with the foreced update see the same thing?

Hello.. I have never done anything like this and XDA is very hard to find stuff. I have an Arrive at 7720. I realized I have to do each step up to 8858. Can someone please post step by step instructions on how to get this updated? If you could post the links to the CABs that I will need for each step will be appreciated. I have the bat file and I downloaded the files for 8779, 8783, 8858. Just not sure really where to find the other 4 steps. And not sure how to actually update the phone. I really want to get updated but I am kind of leary of doing this on my own. :) Thanks!

Unfortunately you cannot go from 8107 to 8858. You'll have to follow the progression listed earlier by thinkdan. You may be able to do it all at the same time - I don't know for sure, as I've only done 1 at a time.

I always get stuck on the connect phone to computer screen. Nothing happens. Device manager doesnt recognize my phone. Its some type of COM issue. Also tried the support tool, and that doesnt recognize it either..

SUCCESS!!! UPDATED MY HTC RADAR 4G FOR T-MOBILE TO WP 7.8 OS!
No major major problems, get a lil error message when I go to Related page while looking at an app on Marketplace, but that's all I've ran into since I updated it with the cab files.

^also the volume always pops up when I go to unlock my phone, its an acquired feeling I guess
*****UPDATE: all above errors have disappeared, they've actually been gone a little while after I updated it. I'm pretty sure it was after I later turned off my phone, but then the Super Bowl was on so I never changed my previous comment...

What? Haven't received the update yet (unlocked L800 in Germany), but what were they thinking? Having just read about the issues with the tiles http://www.wpcentral.com/all-well-live-tiles-windows-phone-78, this update really starts to look borked, especially when considering how "many" new features they added...

HTC TROPHY:
LOCK AND WALLPAPER FIX UK.
As some people ,myself included have encountered the dreaded lock and wallpaper problem on there HTC TROPHY,S after doing the cab 7.8 update i decided to try and fix it.
The solution i found was that i didnt install the correct language packs after the final update.
To fix this i resent the correct language cabs to my phone via the cab sender.
Here are the language packs.
ONLY INSTALL THE LANGUAGE CABS AND NO OTHER CABS.

I'm also getting this error number 8018004D. The first three sets of numbers are different however. and my error message just says "due to an error"...have you or anyone else figured out a workaround for this error? I have tried re-downloading and installing the cabs with no luck, and tried seveneighter as well with no luck. also have tried with and without making a backup.
If anyone has anything that would be great. I used this technique on my old arrive and it worked great and I loved it. Then i dropped it and the pixels shattered, so I got it replaced, sadly now the update won't work. I'm currently stuck on OS 7.10.8783.12, the one right before the real 7.8 update.
please help!!!